Driving to Heathrow during the Olympics - advice please

[KT12]

We are due to fly from Heathrow on 2 August (Terminal 5). We will be driving from Wiltshire, ie the M4. Any advice or ideas how long it might take due to one lane dedicated to the Olympics???

Would have liked to avoid this trip, but we are going to a very special family function....

The Olympic lane is between LHR and central London.

Remember that the rowing is taking place at Dorney Lake which is junc 7 of the M4 so the traffic around there is busier than usual. Also, whilst the lane reduction is from LHR to London, traffic can back up further back as the three lanes go down to two.

Access to T5 is via M4 and M25, and so not affected by the M4 Games Lane (unless there are tailbacks of course).

Peak times for Eton Dorney are 7-9am and 12-2pm, and may affect M4 j8/9 Maidenhead, j6 Windsor and J5 Langley for the Park & Rides.

What time of day do you need to be there?

Thanks for tips about the rowing. Wendeville -my flight is at 13.30. I am parking at T5 long stay, which means I take J5 and then the A4, so avoid the M25.

The journey usually takes about 90 mins - so looking at the rowing peak times what time should I leave? Don't want to get there ridiculously early either! Parking booked for 11am - but I assume getting there earlier won't matter??

Traffic is much lighter than usual round here because of school holidays, and the M4 should be clear. Yesterday there was a nasty crash which caused tailbacks but that's (hopefully) a one-off. Windsor is about 20 minutes out from the airport so you will avoid the peak times comfortably.

Might be an idea to plan some alternative routes just in case but I sincerely doubt you will need them.

Hi. We have just flown back into T5 at Heathrow and it was fine, no problem at all with traffic.

Thanks so much - have decided to add one hour to my journey time, ie leave at 8.30 for 11.00 parking. That should give me ample time - I hope.

My son went down the M4 from J8/9 to Heathrow on Saturdday with no problems at all - the usual 20 minutes for us. And the rowing was on at Dorney,

TBH the rowing is not having the impact on traffic we thought it would (I live in Maidenhead).

Ah thanks amother...that's good to know...